Sydney FC Secure Valuable Away Goal

A place in the AFC Champions League quarter finals is up for grabs at the Sydney Football Stadium on Wednesday 25 May, as Sydney FC return to Australia with a valuable away goal following an assured performance against Shandong Luneng in China tonight.

Summary

Sydney FC 1 (Carney 15’) drew w. Shandong Luneng 1 (Tardelli 57’)

A place in the AFC Champions League quarter finals is up for grabs at the Sydney Football Stadium on Wednesday 25 May, as Sydney FC return to Australia with a valuable away goal following an assured performance against Shandong Luneng in China tonight.

The Sky Blues took the lead early in the first half following a fine move that ended with David Carney heading Riley Woodcock’s cross from the byline beyond keeper Dalei, in what could prove a crucial strike leading in to the second leg next week.

Sydney FC had earlier survived a penalty scare, as Vedran Janjetovic denied Argentine Walter Montillo from 12 yards, and were composed on the ball throughout the first 45 to take a lead in at the break.

Brazilian Diego Tardelli restored party early in the second half for the hosts as he tapped in at the far post off a corner, as half chances went begging for both sides in the second stanza to leave the match on a knife edge with 90 minutes separating the two teams from a place in the last eight of Asia’s premier club competition.

Sydney FC will take on Shandong Luneng at home at the Sydney Football Stadium in the second leg of the round of 16 tie on Wednesday 25 May, with a bumper crowd expected for what will be a historic night for the Sky Blues.

What They Said

David Carney: “Overall it was a good performance. I thought first half we controlled most of the ball and second half we knew they were going to come at us, but 1-1 we would have taken that before the game and we should be proud with that. Hopefully we get a good crowd now in Sydney and go on and win it.

“It was good to score and good to get the away goal, it was important that we got that. We can go at home and go for it now and I’m sure that they’ll come at us which is good and hopefully we can get them in behind if they throw a few bodies forward. It’s definitely not over, it’s only half time so we still have a lot to do.

“We kept the ball well, we got the goal which was good and overall defensively I thought we were quite solid. Hopefully next Wednesday we can go for it in front of a good crowd.”

Goals

14’ CARNEY GOAL – Dimitrijevic finds Woodcock on the left who gets to the byline to send over a cross which finds David Carney to head home.

57’ TARDELLI GOAL – The Brazilian restores parity as he taps in at the far post following a header forward from a corner.

Key Moments

1’ GRANT BLOCK – A Shandong break on the left is cut back to Xinghan but his shot is brilliantly deflected over by a last ditch Rhyan Grant sliding block.

8’ JANJETOVIC PENALTY SAVE – The Sky Blues concede a penalty as Xinghan goes down but when Montillo puts the ball to Vedran’s left the keeper is down quickly to make a brilliant save.

28’ TARDELLI BLAST OVER – Binbin breaks and cuts back to Tardelli but he blasts high over the bar when well placed.

34’ CARNEY SHOOTS WIDE – Grant gets clear and to the byline to cut the ball back for an easy tap in for someone but alas no Sky Blue player is there. It falls to Carney at the edge of the area however but his left foot curling shot is just wide.

49’ O’NEILL HEADER CLEARED OFF THE LINE – A cross from the right hand side of the Sydney FC attack finds Brandon O’Neill at the back post and his header back across goal into the far corner is cleared off the line.

53’ OFF THE BAR – Shandong rifle a long range effort which bounces off the underside of Janjetovic’s bar and away to safety.

55’ SHANDONG HIT SIDE NETTING – Binbin carries it forward to the edge of the area before drilling an effort into the side netting.

87’ DAI LINE FIRES FROM DISTANCE – With space to shoot, Dai Lin attempts an effort from long range, however it’s straight at Janjetovic and saved.

Team News

Sydney FC 1 (Carney 15’) drew w. Shandong Luneng 1 (Tardelli 57’)

Head Coach Graham Arnold recalled Matthew Jurman to the starting line-up as captain with Seb Ryall (quad) out with injury. Riley Woodcock continued in the left back berth with David Carney returning on the left hand side of midfield. Matt Simon returned from suspension up front with George Blackwood coming into the side on the right flank.